Taranaki, BoP win in day of records
Taranaki and Bay of Plenty both inflicted huge defeats on two of the traditional powerhouses on New Zealand in Sunday’s NPC action.
Taranaki scored a record 39-11 win over Auckland, while Bay of Plenty have cemented their spot at the top of the ladder with a 32-0 victory over Wellington.
Taranaki inflicted yet more doubt and uncertainty on Auckland in New Plymouth, following an explosive 12-minute period in the second spell – which rewarded them with four tries as they secured their third victory from four outings.
Conversely, it marked Auckland’s third defeat as their indifferent campaign continued to stutter along.
Not that that will concern Taranaki, who turned what had been an error-filled affair on its head with four quickfire tries to streak out to a 34-6 lead entering the final quarter.
Both teams, and Auckland in particular, showed a liking for giving the ball plenty of air and their failure to convert plentiful possession into points owed as much to Taranaki’s stern defence as the visitors’ inability to clinically finish off their attack.
It was the most embarrassing of the lapses by Auckland in the competition and one that has effectively shut the Queen City out of the finals they so earnestly covet in the domestic competition.
* Three tries inside the opening 20 minutes set the base for the competition leaders, the Bay of Plenty Steamers, to pound whitewash Wellington (32-0) at Mt Maunganui.
The win was the home team’s fourth from as many starts, and their third over Wellington in the last three years.
Wellington managed a reasonable share of possession, but at the wrong end of the paddock after they were too often guilty of aimless kicking.
Bay of Plenty’s front eight laid the base for the win, working hard in the loose, packing down a solid scrum and dominating the line-out to keep Wellington under constant pressure.
All Sunday’s results and scorers:
Taranaki 39-11 Auckland:
Scorers:
For Taranaki:
Tries: Waldrom, Keats, Baker, Hayward, Schwalger
Cons: Barrett 4
Pens: Barrett 2
For Auckland:
Try: Ward
Pens: Anscombe 2
Teams:
Taranaki: 15 Kurt Baker, 14 Andre Taylor, 13 George Pisi, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 Jackson Ormond, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Tyson Keats, 8 Ben Souness, 7 Scott Waldrom, 6 Chris Walker, 5 Craig Clarke (captain), 4 James Broadhurst, 3 Shane Cleaver, 2 Laurence Corlett, 1 Michael Bent.
Replacements: 16 Mahonri Schwalger, 17 Carl Carmichael, 18 Jason Eaton, 19 Blade Thomson, 20 Brett Goodin, 21 Jack Cameron, 22 Isaia Tuifua, 23 Willie Ioane.
Auckland: 15 Brent Ward, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Hadleigh Parkes, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Charles Piutau, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Sean Polwart, 6 Nathan Hughes, 5 Chris Lowrey, 4 Steve Luatua, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney (captain), 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Pauliasi Manu, 18 Richard Haddon, 19 Onosai’i Auva’a, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Piers Francis, 22 Isaia Toeava, 23 Angus Ta’avao.
Referee: Chris Pollock
Bay of Plenty 32-0 Wellington 0
Scorers:
For Bay of Plenty:
Tries: Moa, Pareanga, Burleigh, Arnold
Cons: Noakes 3
Pens: Noakes 2
For Wellington:
None
Teams:
Bay of Plenty: 15 Toby Arnold, 14 Lelia Masaga, 13 Phil Burleigh, 12 Steve Kefu, 11 Lance MacDonald, 10 Chris Noakes, 9 Taniela Moa, 7 Luke Braid, 8 Colin Bourke (captain), 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Luke Andrews, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Tristan Moran.
Replacements: 16 Daniel Perrin, 17 Pingi Tala’apitanga, 18 Leighton Price, 19 Sam Cane, 20 Jamie Nutbrown, 21 Daniel Waenga, 22 Ben W Smith, 23 Bronson Murray.
Wellington: 15 Apoua Stewart, 14 Jason Woodward, 13 Alipate Leiua, 12 Michael Hobbs, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Api Naikatini, 4 Jeremy Thrush (captain), 3 Whetu Henry, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Jacob Ellison.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu’u, 17 Arden David-Perrot, 18 Mark Reddish, 19 Brad Shields, 20 Serge Lilo, 21 Frae Wilson, 22 Michael Lealava’a, 23 Reg Goodes.
Referee: Vinny Munro
